Link-belt conveyer.



N. B. WIDMAYER.

LINK BELT CONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED mums, 1911.

Patented Oct, 8, 1912.

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LINK BELT UONVEYBR.

APPLIUATION FILED JANJD, 1911.

3 SHEIZTSSHEET 2.

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N. B. WIDMAYER. LINK BELT GONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1911.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

3 SHBETS-SHEET 3.

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'1 UFFICE.

NEWTON BARTON WIDMAYER, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK.

LINK-BELT CONVEYER.

Application filed January 19, 1911.

lb all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Nimvrrtnv Barron immnvnn, a citizen of the UnitedStates at America, residing at Yonkers, in the county of Vestchester andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLink-Belt Conveyors, of which the. following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to link belt conveyors and while it isparticularly adapted. as herein embodied, for use in conveyors of thegravity bucket type, it is not limited to the same.

The present invention is designed to provide for thorough lubrication ofthe bearings of link belt conveyors in a manner to effect a considerablesaving in time, labor and expense, over the methods now commonlyemployed.

In carrying the invention into effect, pro vision is made first, forreducing the number of hearings in the conveyor to a minimum; second,for introducing the lubricant internally and causing it to work outwardfrom a point within the bearings, rather than in the reverse direction,as when applied externally, is ordinarily done; third, for storing thelubricant in quantity sullicient to supply a number 0t bearings andcaijising an automatic distrilinition of the same to such bearingsduring the operation of the conveyer.

The preferred embodiment of the inven tion is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. I wish it understood, however, that I do notlimit myself to either the exact form or arrangement of parts shown, asvarious changes may be made therein without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

In. the drawings: Figure l is a view in elevation of a portion of a linkbelt conveyor of the gravity bucket type, showing my invention applied.Fig. 2 is an enlarged de tail section taken on the line s s of Fi 1, andFig. 3 is a similar view on the line, 8", s, of Fig. 2. Fig. 1 a viewpartly in section, showing a modification.

Referring now to the drawings, 1. 2, 3 and 1 represent portions ofendless chains of similar construction, which are arranged in parallelrelation and. connected one with another, throughout their length, by aseries of through cross members 5, as shown.

The chains are formed of links 6, which are forked at one end only, asat 7, and as Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8,1912.

Serial No. 603,481.

arranged, receive in the fork, the opposite end 8 oil the adjoininglink. In the overlapping extremities of the links, registering openingst) are formed and titted in such openings, there are members 10, whichserve to )ivotally connect; the links together in pairs.

The members 10 are preferably given sutticient length to provide commonpivots for the links ot the outer and the adjoining inner chains in thepresent embodiment of the invention but, it will be apparent, that theycould, it. desired, be extended entirely across the conveyor, as thepivotal axes of the links are alined transversely thereof as shown inFig. 4;. Such a construction, while possible and practical, undercertain comlitions, is not desirable here, as it would intcrit'ere tosome extent with loading the buckets '11, which are trunnioned on theinner projecting ends 12 ot' the members 10.

Between the outer and the adjoining inner chains of the conveyor, wheels13 are mounted on the members '10 and serve to support the conveyor,being flanged and running on suitably arranged tracks (not shown) in theusual manner.

In order to reduce the number of bearings throughout the conveyor, theforked end of each link of the several chains is secured fast to themember 10, on which it is mounted. As shown, a boss 14 is formed on thefork and through registering openings of the boss and the member 10, apin 15 is driven or otherwise entered and secured, thus uniting theseparts against independcut movement.

Provision is made for the storage of a quantity of lubricantand itsdistribution to the bearings ot the several parts mounted on the members10, by making such members hollow, as indicated at 16 and formingrequisite passages 17 therein leading to the bearings. The inner ends ofthe members 10 being closed by the :form of the trunnions, closures forthe outer open ends thereof are provided in the form of hollow plugs 18,of well known coustrl'iction, having a springcloscd valve 19 controllingan opening 20, through which oil or other lubricant may be introducedinto the member 10. To check the [low of the lubricant through thetrunnioned bearings, a wad of cotton waste, wicking or like material maybe placed in the member 11.0, as indicated at 21.

The several parts having a bearing on the members 10, may be providedwith a bushing 22, as shown.

The many important advantages of the invention will be apparent from theforegoing description and it .will only be necessary therefore, tobriefly mention them.

In reducing the number of bearings throughout the conveyer, by pinningone end of each link fast to its pivot, no wear can result between suchparts and they do not require lubrication. Further in pinning the forkedends of the links of the outer and the adjoining inner chains to thesame pivot, the opposite ends of the links straddled by the forks andthe wheels interposed between them, are held assembled in properrelation and against lateral play and the resulting Wear which such playwould bring about. The arrangement of the links of two chains, the wheeland the trunnion bearing of the bucket to turn about the same pivotalaxis, makes it possible to employ a single pivot i. 6., the member 10,to carry these parts. Further, as a result of such an arrangement, aquantity of lubricant stored in the hollow pivot, serves to supply thebearings of the various parts mounted thereon for a considerable periodof time and when it is necessary to renew the lubricant, thecomparatively large quantity, stored in each hollo-w pivot, greatlyreduces the time and labor involved over the old method of oiling eachbearing individually.

Having, therefore, described my invention, I claim:

1. In a link belt conveyer, the combination of a series of bucket-s,chains arranged in parallel relation on each side of the buckets, wheelssupporting the chains, through cross members between the bucketsconnecting the links of the several chains at points intermediate theirends, hollow axles for the wheels pivotally uniting the links of thechains and having projecting portions on which the buckets aretrunnioned, said axles being provided with oil passages leading to thebearings of the members mounted thereon.

2. In a link belt conveyer, the combination of a series of buckets,chains arranged in parallel relation on each side of the buckets, wheelssupporting the chains, through cross members between the buckets rigidlyconnecting the several chains, tubular members having the chain links,chain-supporting wheels and buckets mounted thereon and provided withoil passages leading to the bearings thereof, means securing thecorresponding end of each of the chain links fast to the tubularmembers, and removable closures for the open ends of said tubularmembers.

3. In a link belt conveyer, the combination of two or more chains formedof forked links having overlapping ends provided with registeringapertures, through cross members rigidly connecting the links,chainsupporting wheels and conveyer buckets arranged to turn about axescoinciding with the pivotal centers of the chain links, hollowoil-holding axles connecting the chain links, wheels and bucketsoperatively assembled, said axles being provided with passages leadingto the bearings of the members mounted thereon, and means securing theforked end of the chain links fast to the axles.

NEWTON BARTON WIDMAYER.

WVitnesses:

WALTER I-I. PUMPHREY, M. G. CRAWFORD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

